The Origin of Kedara

Verse 1 (skanda.6.122.1)

सूत उवाच । एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोस्मि द्विजोत्तमाः । यथा स निहतो देव्या महिषाख्यो दनूत्तमः

sūta uvāca etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭosmi dvijottamāḥ yathā sa nihato devyā mahiṣākhyo danūttamaḥ

Suta said: O excellent brahmins, I have told you all that you asked — how that foremost of danavas named Mahisha was slain by the Goddess.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.122.2)

सांप्रतं कीर्तयिष्यामि कथां पातकनाशिनीम् । केदारसंभवां पुण्यां तां शृणुध्वं समाहिताः

sāṁprataṁ kīrtayiṣyāmi kathāṁ pātakanāśinīm kedārasaṁbhavāṁ puṇyāṁ tāṁ śṛṇudhvaṁ samāhitāḥ

Now I shall relate a sin-destroying story — the sacred tale concerning the origin of Kedara; hear it with a focused mind.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.122.3)

ऋषय ऊचुः । केदारः श्रूयते सूत गंगाद्वारे हिमाचले । स कथं चेह संप्राप्तः सर्वं विस्तरतो वद

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kedāraḥ śrūyate sūta gaṁgādvāre himācale sa kathaṁ ceha saṁprāptaḥ sarvaṁ vistarato vada

The sages said: O Suta, we have heard that Kedara is at Gangadvara on the Himalayan mountain; how has it come to be here also? Tell us all in detail.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.122.4)

सूत उवाच । एतत्सत्यं गिरौ तस्मिन्स्वयंभूः संस्थितः प्रभुः । परं तत्र वसेद्देवो यावन्मासाष्टकं द्विजाः

sūta uvāca etatsatyaṁ girau tasminsvayaṁbhūḥ saṁsthitaḥ prabhuḥ paraṁ tatra vaseddevo yāvanmāsāṣṭakaṁ dvijāḥ

Suta said: It is true that the self-manifest Lord resides on that mountain; but, O brahmins, the god dwells there for only eight months.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.122.5)

यावद्घर्मश्च वर्षा च तावत्तत्र वसेत्प्रभुः । शीतकाले पुनश्चात्र क्षेत्रे संतिष्ठते सदा

yāvadgharmaśca varṣā ca tāvattatra vasetprabhuḥ śītakāle punaścātra kṣetre saṁtiṣṭhate sadā

As long as the summer and rainy seasons last, the Lord dwells there; but in the cold season he always resides again in this very field (Hatakeshvara).

Verse 6 (skanda.6.122.6)

ऋषय ऊचुः । किं तत्कार्यं वसेद्येन क्षेत्रे मासचतुष्टयम् । हिमाचले यथैवाष्टौ सूतपुत्र वदस्व नः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kiṁ tatkāryaṁ vasedyena kṣetre māsacatuṣṭayam himācale yathaivāṣṭau sūtaputra vadasva naḥ

The sages said: O son of Suta, tell us what purpose is served by his dwelling in this field for the remaining four months, just as in the Himalayas for the eight months.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.122.7)

सूत उवाच । पूर्वं स्वायंभुवस्यादौ मनोर्दैत्यो महाबलः । हिरण्याक्षो महातेजास्तपोवीर्यसमन्वितः

sūta uvāca pūrvaṁ svāyaṁbhuvasyādau manordaityo mahābalaḥ hiraṇyākṣo mahātejāstapovīryasamanvitaḥ

Suta said: Formerly, at the beginning of the Svayambhuva Manvantara, there was a mighty and radiant daitya named Hiranyaksha, endowed with austerity and valor.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.122.8)

तैर्व्याप्तं जगदेतद्धि निरस्य त्रिदशाधिपम् । यज्ञ भागाश्चदेवानां हृता वीर्यप्रभावतः

tairvyāptaṁ jagadetaddhi nirasya tridaśādhipam yajña bhāgāścadevānāṁ hṛtā vīryaprabhāvataḥ

This entire world was overrun by them; having driven out the lord of the gods, they seized the gods' share of sacrifices by the power of their strength.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.122.9)

अथ शक्रः सुरैः सार्धं गंगाद्वारं समाश्रितः । तपस्तेपे सुदुःखार्तो राज्यश्रीपरिवर्जितः

atha śakraḥ suraiḥ sārdhaṁ gaṁgādvāraṁ samāśritaḥ tapastepe suduḥkhārto rājyaśrīparivarjitaḥ

Then Indra, together with the gods, took refuge at Gangadvara and, bereft of his royal fortune, performed austerities in great distress.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.122.10)

तस्यैवं तप्यमानस्य तपस्तीव्रं महात्मनः । माहिषं रूपमास्थाय निश्चक्राम धरातलात्

tasyaivaṁ tapyamānasya tapastīvraṁ mahātmanaḥ māhiṣaṁ rūpamāsthāya niścakrāma dharātalāt

As that great soul performed such severe austerity, by the power of that tapas Mahadeva himself, taking the form of a buffalo, arose from the surface of the earth.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.122.11)

स्वयमेव महादेवस्ततः शक्रमुवाच ह । केदारयामि मे शीघ्रं ब्रूहि सर्वं सुरोत्तम । दैत्यानामथ सर्वेषां रूपेणानेन वासव

svayameva mahādevastataḥ śakramuvāca ha kedārayāmi me śīghraṁ brūhi sarvaṁ surottama daityānāmatha sarveṣāṁ rūpeṇānena vāsava

Mahadeva himself then said to Indra, "O best of gods, I shall quickly tear this open (kedārayāmi); O Vasava, tell me everything quickly about all the daityas, in this form."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.122.12)

इन्द्र उवाच । हिरण्याक्षो महादैत्यः सुबाहुर्वक्र कन्धरः । त्रिशृंगो लोहिताक्षश्च पंचैतान्दारय प्रभो । हतैरेतैर्हतं सर्वं दानवानामसंशयम्

indra uvāca hiraṇyākṣo mahādaityaḥ subāhurvakra kandharaḥ triśṛṁgo lohitākṣaśca paṁcaitāndāraya prabho hatairetairhataṁ sarvaṁ dānavānāmasaṁśayam

Indra said: "The great daitya Hiranyaksha has mighty arms and a crooked neck; there are also Trishringa and Lohitaksha — O Lord, tear open these five! With these slain, without doubt all the danavas will be as good as slain."

Verse 13 (skanda.6.122.13)

किमन्यैः कृपणैर्ध्वस्तैर्यैः किंचिन्नात्र सिध्यति । तस्य तद्वचनश्रुत्वा भगवांस्तूर्णमभ्यगात् । यत्र दानवमुख्योऽसौ हिरण्याक्षो महाबलः

kimanyaiḥ kṛpaṇairdhvastairyaiḥ kiṁcinnātra sidhyati tasya tadvacanaśrutvā bhagavāṁstūrṇamabhyagāt yatra dānavamukhyo'sau hiraṇyākṣo mahābalaḥ

"What use is there in destroying the other petty danavas, by whom nothing here is accomplished?" Hearing his words, the Lord went swiftly to where that mighty foremost of danavas, Hiranyaksha, was.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.122.14)

अथ तं दूरतो दृष्ट्वा महिषं पर्वतोपमम् । आयातं रौद्ररूपेण दानवाः सर्वतश्च ते

atha taṁ dūrato dṛṣṭvā mahiṣaṁ parvatopamam āyātaṁ raudrarūpeṇa dānavāḥ sarvataśca te

Then, seeing that mountain-like buffalo, of fierce form, approaching from a distance, the danavas gathered from all sides.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.122.15)

ततो जघ्नुश्च पाषाणैर्लगुडैश्च तथापरे । क्ष्वेडितास्फोटितांश्चक्रुस्तथान्ये बलगर्विताः

tato jaghnuśca pāṣāṇairlaguḍaiśca tathāpare kṣveḍitāsphoṭitāṁścakrustathānye balagarvitāḥ

Then some struck at him with stones and clubs, while other danavas, intoxicated with strength, roared and hurled challenges.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.122.16)

अथवमन्य तान्देवः प्रहारं लीलया ददौ । यत्रास्ते दानवेन्द्रोऽसौ चतुर्भिः सचिवैः सह

athavamanya tāndevaḥ prahāraṁ līlayā dadau yatrāste dānavendro'sau caturbhiḥ sacivaiḥ saha

Disdaining them, the god struck them with mere sport, going to where that lord of danavas stood together with his four ministers.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.122.17)

ततः शस्त्रं समुद्यम्य यावद्धावति सम्मुखः । तावच्छृंगप्रहारेण सोनयद्यमसादनम्

tataḥ śastraṁ samudyamya yāvaddhāvati sammukhaḥ tāvacchṛṁgaprahāreṇa sonayadyamasādanam

Then, before he could raise his weapon and rush forward, with a single thrust of the horn he sent him straight to the abode of Yama.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.122.18)

हत्वा तं सचिवान्पश्चात्सुबाहुप्रमुखांश्च तान् । जघान हन्यमानोऽपि समन्ताद्दानवैः परैः

hatvā taṁ sacivānpaścātsubāhupramukhāṁśca tān jaghāna hanyamāno'pi samantāddānavaiḥ paraiḥ

Having slain him, then killing his ministers headed by Subahu, even while being surrounded on all sides by other danavas, he continued to slay them.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.122.19)

न तस्य लगते क्वापि शस्त्रं गात्रे कथंचन । यत्नतोऽपि विसृष्टं च लब्धलक्षैः प्रहारिभिः

na tasya lagate kvāpi śastraṁ gātre kathaṁcana yatnato'pi visṛṣṭaṁ ca labdhalakṣaiḥ prahāribhiḥ

No weapon could touch his body anywhere, however skillfully aimed and however great the effort of those expert marksmen who hurled them.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.122.20)

एवं पंच प्रधानास्तान्हत्वा दैत्यान्महेश्वरः । भूयो जगाम तं देशं यत्र शक्रो व्यवस्थितः । अब्रवीच्च प्रहष्टात्मा ततः शक्रं तपोन्वितम्

evaṁ paṁca pradhānāstānhatvā daityānmaheśvaraḥ bhūyo jagāma taṁ deśaṁ yatra śakro vyavasthitaḥ abravīcca prahaṣṭātmā tataḥ śakraṁ taponvitam

Thus, having slain those five foremost daityas, Maheshvara went again to that place where Indra stood, and, deeply pleased, spoke to Indra, who remained absorbed in austerity.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.122.21)

मया ते निहताः पंच दानवा ये त्वयेरिताः । तस्मात्त्रैलोक्यराज्यं स्वं भूय एव समाचर

mayā te nihatāḥ paṁca dānavā ye tvayeritāḥ tasmāttrailokyarājyaṁ svaṁ bhūya eva samācara

"I have slain the five danavas whom you named; therefore now govern your own kingdom of the three worlds once again."

Verse 22 (skanda.6.122.22)

मत्तोऽन्यदपि देवेश वरं प्रार्थय वांछितम् । कैलासशिखरं येन गच्छामि त्वरयाऽन्वितः

matto'nyadapi deveśa varaṁ prārthaya vāṁchitam kailāsaśikharaṁ yena gacchāmi tvarayā'nvitaḥ

"O lord of the gods, ask also for any other boon you desire, so that I may return in haste to the peak of Kailasa."

Verse 23 (skanda.6.122.23)

इन्द्र उवाच । अनेनैव हि रूपेण तिष्ठ त्वं चात्र शंकर । त्रैलोक्यरक्षणार्थाय धर्माय च शिवाय च

indra uvāca anenaiva hi rūpeṇa tiṣṭha tvaṁ cātra śaṁkara trailokyarakṣaṇārthāya dharmāya ca śivāya ca

Indra said: "O Shankara, remain here in this very form, for the protection of the three worlds, for dharma, and for the welfare of all."

Verse 24 (skanda.6.122.24)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । एतद्रूपं मया शक्र कृतं तस्य वधाय वै । अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां यतोन्येषां मया हतः

śrībhagavānuvāca etadrūpaṁ mayā śakra kṛtaṁ tasya vadhāya vai avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ yatonyeṣāṁ mayā hataḥ

The Lord said: "O Shakra, I assumed this form only for his slaying; since he was unslayable by other means, I killed him thus."

Verse 25 (skanda.6.122.25)

तस्मादत्रैव ते वाक्यात्स्थास्यामि सुर सत्तम । अनेनैव तु रूपेण मोक्षदः सर्वदेहिनाम्

tasmādatraiva te vākyātsthāsyāmi sura sattama anenaiva tu rūpeṇa mokṣadaḥ sarvadehinām

"Therefore, at your very word, O best of gods, I shall remain here; and in this very form I shall bestow liberation upon all beings."

Verse 26 (skanda.6.122.26)

एवमुक्त्वा विरूपाक्षश्चक्रे कुंडं ततः परम् । शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं सुस्वादुक्षीरवत्प्रियम्

evamuktvā virūpākṣaścakre kuṁḍaṁ tataḥ param śuddhasphaṭikasaṁkāśaṁ susvādukṣīravatpriyam

Having said this, Virupaksha created there an excellent pool, clear like pure crystal and as pleasing as sweet, delicious milk.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.122.27)

ततः प्रोवाच देवेन्द्रं मेघगंभीरया गिरा । शृण्वतां सर्वदेवानां भगवांस्त्रिपुरातकः

tataḥ provāca devendraṁ meghagaṁbhīrayā girā śṛṇvatāṁ sarvadevānāṁ bhagavāṁstripurātakaḥ

Then, in the hearing of all the gods, the Lord who destroyed the three cities spoke to Indra in a voice deep as thunderclouds.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.122.28)

यो मां दृष्ट्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा कुंडमेतत्प्रपश्यति । त्रिः पीत्वा वामसव्येन द्वाभ्यां चैव ततो जलम्

yo māṁ dṛṣṭvā śucirbhūtvā kuṁḍametatprapaśyati triḥ pītvā vāmasavyena dvābhyāṁ caiva tato jalam

"Whoever, having become pure, beholds me and gazes upon this pool, and drinks the water three times, with the left hand and then the right,"

Verse 29 (skanda.6.122.29)

कराभ्यां स पुमान्नूनं तारयेच्च कुलत्रयम् । अपि पापसमाचारं नरकेऽपि व्यव स्थितम्

karābhyāṁ sa pumānnūnaṁ tārayecca kulatrayam api pāpasamācāraṁ narake'pi vyava sthitam

"that man will surely deliver three generations of his family — even those who, sinful in conduct, are lodged in hell."

Verse 30 (skanda.6.122.30)

वामेन मातृकं पक्षं दक्षिणेनाथ पैतृकम् । उभाभ्यामथ चात्मानं कराभ्यां मद्वचो यथा

vāmena mātṛkaṁ pakṣaṁ dakṣiṇenātha paitṛkam ubhābhyāmatha cātmānaṁ karābhyāṁ madvaco yathā

"With the left hand for the maternal lineage, with the right hand for the paternal lineage, and with both hands for oneself — such is my word."

Verse 31 (skanda.6.122.31)

इन्द्र उवाच । अहमागत्य नित्यं त्वां स्वर्गाद्वृषभवाहन । अत्रस्थं पूजयिष्यामि पास्यामि च तथोदकम्

indra uvāca ahamāgatya nityaṁ tvāṁ svargādvṛṣabhavāhana atrasthaṁ pūjayiṣyāmi pāsyāmi ca tathodakam

Indra said: "O rider of the bull, I shall come daily from heaven and worship you established here, and shall likewise drink that water."

Verse 32 (skanda.6.122.32)

के दारयामि यत्प्रोक्तं त्वया महिषरूपिणा । केदार इति नाम्ना त्वं ततः ख्यातो भविष्यसि

ke dārayāmi yatproktaṁ tvayā mahiṣarūpiṇā kedāra iti nāmnā tvaṁ tataḥ khyāto bhaviṣyasi

"Since you, in the form of a buffalo, said 'I shall tear open' (kedārayāmi), you shall henceforth become renowned by the name Kedara."

Verse 33 (skanda.6.122.33)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । यद्येवं कुरुषे शक्र ततो दैत्यभयं न ते । भविष्यति परं तेजो गात्रे संपत्स्यतेऽखिलम्

śrībhagavānuvāca yadyevaṁ kuruṣe śakra tato daityabhayaṁ na te bhaviṣyati paraṁ tejo gātre saṁpatsyate'khilam

The Lord said: "O Shakra, if you do so, you shall have no fear of daityas, and your body shall be endowed with the highest splendor."

Verse 34 (skanda.6.122.34)

एवमुक्तः सहस्राक्षस्ततः प्रासादमुत्तमम् । तदर्थं निर्मयामास साध्वालोकं मनोहरम्

evamuktaḥ sahasrākṣastataḥ prāsādamuttamam tadarthaṁ nirmayāmāsa sādhvālokaṁ manoharam

Thus addressed, the thousand-eyed Indra had a lovely and truly sightly excellent shrine built for him.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.122.35)

ततः प्रणम्य तं देवमनुमन्त्र्य ततः परम् । जगाम निजमावासं मेरुशृंगाग्रसंस्थितम्

tataḥ praṇamya taṁ devamanumantrya tataḥ param jagāma nijamāvāsaṁ meruśṛṁgāgrasaṁsthitam

Then, having bowed to that god and taken his leave, he departed to his own abode, situated upon the peak of Mount Meru.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.122.36)

ततश्चागत्य नित्यं स स्वर्गाद्देवस्य शूलिनः । केदारस्य सुभक्त्याढ्यां पूजां चक्रे समाहितः

tataścāgatya nityaṁ sa svargāddevasya śūlinaḥ kedārasya subhaktyāḍhyāṁ pūjāṁ cakre samāhitaḥ

Thereafter, coming daily from heaven, he performed a deeply devoted worship of the trident-bearing god Kedara.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.122.37)

मन्त्रोदकं च त्रिः पीत्वा ययौ ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः । कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य यावत्तत्र समाययौ

mantrodakaṁ ca triḥ pītvā yayau brāhmaṇasattamāḥ kasyacittvatha kālasya yāvattatra samāyayau

O excellent brahmins, having drunk the mantra-consecrated water three times, he would depart. After some time had passed, when he arrived there once more,

Verse 38 (skanda.6.122.38)

तावद्धिमेन तत्सर्वं गिरेः शृंगं प्रपूरितम् । तच्च कुण्डं स देवश्च प्रासादेन समन्वितः

tāvaddhimena tatsarvaṁ gireḥ śṛṁgaṁ prapūritam tacca kuṇḍaṁ sa devaśca prāsādena samanvitaḥ

by then the peak of the mountain had become entirely covered with snow, and that pool and that god, together with his shrine, had become enveloped in ice.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.122.39)

ततो दुःखपरीतात्मा भक्त्या परमया युतः । तां दिशं प्रणिपत्योच्चैर्जगाम निजमंदिरम्

tato duḥkhaparītātmā bhaktyā paramayā yutaḥ tāṁ diśaṁ praṇipatyoccairjagāma nijamaṁdiram

Then, overcome with sorrow yet filled with supreme devotion, bowing toward that direction, Indra went to his own abode, loudly lamenting.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.122.40)

एवमागच्छतस्तस्य गतं मासचतुष्टयम् । अपश्यतो महादेवं दिदृक्षागतचेतसः

evamāgacchatastasya gataṁ māsacatuṣṭayam apaśyato mahādevaṁ didṛkṣāgatacetasaḥ

Thus, coming there again and again, four months passed for him, without beholding Mahadeva, his heart still longing for that sight.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.122.41)

ततः प्राप्ते पुनर्विप्रा घर्मकाले हिमालये । संयातो दृक्पथं देवः स तथारूपसंस्थितः

tataḥ prāpte punarviprā gharmakāle himālaye saṁyāto dṛkpathaṁ devaḥ sa tathārūpasaṁsthitaḥ

Then, O brahmins, when the hot season again arrived in the Himalayas, that god, remaining in that very form, once more came within sight.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.122.42)

ततः पूजां विधायोच्चैश्चातुर्मास्यसमुद्भवाम् । गीतवाद्यादिकं चक्रे तत्पुरः श्रद्धयान्वितः

tataḥ pūjāṁ vidhāyoccaiścāturmāsyasamudbhavām gītavādyādikaṁ cakre tatpuraḥ śraddhayānvitaḥ

Then, performing the worship prescribed for the Chaturmasya rite with great fervor, he also arranged music and instrumental performances before him with devotion.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.122.43)

अथ देवः समालोक्य तां श्रद्धां तस्य गोपतेः । प्रोवाच दर्शनं गत्वा भगवांस्त्रिपुरांतकः

atha devaḥ samālokya tāṁ śraddhāṁ tasya gopateḥ provāca darśanaṁ gatvā bhagavāṁstripurāṁtakaḥ

Then, seeing that devotion of that lord of cattle (Indra), the Lord who destroyed the three cities appeared to him and said —

Verse 44 (skanda.6.122.44)

परितुष्टोऽस्मि देवेश भक्त्या चानन्ययाऽनया । तस्मात्प्रार्थय दास्यामि यं कामं हृदिसंस्थितम्

parituṣṭo'smi deveśa bhaktyā cānanyayā'nayā tasmātprārthaya dāsyāmi yaṁ kāmaṁ hṛdisaṁsthitam

"O lord of the gods, I am deeply pleased by this unwavering devotion of yours; therefore ask for whatever desire is fixed in your heart, and I shall grant it."

Verse 45 (skanda.6.122.45)

शक्र उवाच । तव प्रसादात्संजातं ममैश्वर्यमनुत्तमम् । यत्किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु तत्सर्वं गृहसंस्थितम्

śakra uvāca tava prasādātsaṁjātaṁ mamaiśvaryamanuttamam yatkiṁcittriṣu lokeṣu tatsarvaṁ gṛhasaṁsthitam

Indra said: "By your grace alone has this unsurpassed sovereignty of mine arisen; whatever exists in the three worlds is all present within my own house."

Verse 46 (skanda.6.122.46)

तस्माद्यदि प्रसादं मे करोषि वृषभध्वज । वरं वा यच्छसि प्रीतस्तत्कुरुष्व वचो मम

tasmādyadi prasādaṁ me karoṣi vṛṣabhadhvaja varaṁ vā yacchasi prītastatkuruṣva vaco mama

"Therefore, O bull-bannered one, if you wish to be gracious to me and grant a boon, please grant this request of mine —"

Verse 47 (skanda.6.122.47)

पर्वतोऽयं भवेद्गम्यो मासानष्टौ सुरेश्वर । यावन्मीनस्थितो भानुः प्रगच्छति श्रुतं मया

parvato'yaṁ bhavedgamyo māsānaṣṭau sureśvara yāvanmīnasthito bhānuḥ pragacchati śrutaṁ mayā

"O lord of gods, this mountain remains accessible only for eight months, for as long as the sun moves in Pisces, as I have heard."

Verse 48 (skanda.6.122.48)

ततः परमगम्यश्च हिमपूरेण संवृतः । यदा स्याच्चतुरो मासान्यावत्कुम्भगतो रविः

tataḥ paramagamyaśca himapūreṇa saṁvṛtaḥ yadā syāccaturo māsānyāvatkumbhagato raviḥ

"After that it becomes utterly inaccessible, covered by masses of snow, until, after four months, the sun enters Aquarius."

Verse 49 (skanda.6.122.49)

संजायतेऽप्यगम्यश्च ममापि त्रिपुरांतक । किं पुनः स्वल्पसत्त्वानां नरादीनां सुरेश्वर

saṁjāyate'pyagamyaśca mamāpi tripurāṁtaka kiṁ punaḥ svalpasattvānāṁ narādīnāṁ sureśvara

"O destroyer of the three cities, at that time it becomes inaccessible even to me — what then to speak of humans and others of little power, O lord of gods!"

Verse 50 (skanda.6.122.50)

तस्मात्स्वर्गेऽथ पाताले मर्त्ये वा त्रिदशेश्वर । कुरुष्वानेनरूपेण स्थितिं मासचतुष्टयम् । येन न स्यात्प्रतिज्ञाया हानिर्मम सुरेश्वर

tasmātsvarge'tha pātāle martye vā tridaśeśvara kuruṣvānenarūpeṇa sthitiṁ māsacatuṣṭayam yena na syātpratijñāyā hānirmama sureśvara

"Therefore, O lord of the thirty gods, please reside in this very form for four months — in heaven, in the netherworld, or in the mortal world — so that my vow may not fail, O lord of gods."

Verse 51 (skanda.6.122.51)

सूत उवाच । ततो देवश्चिरं ध्यात्वा प्रोवाच बलसूदनम् । परं संतोषमापन्नो मेघनिर्घोषनिःस्वनम्

sūta uvāca tato devaściraṁ dhyātvā provāca balasūdanam paraṁ saṁtoṣamāpanno meghanirghoṣaniḥsvanam

Suta said: Then the god, having pondered for a long while, and greatly pleased, spoke to Indra, the slayer of Bala, in a voice as deep as thunder.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.122.52)

आनर्तविषये क्षेत्रं हाटकेश्वरसंज्ञितम् । अस्मदीयं सहस्राक्ष विद्यते धरणीतले

ānartaviṣaye kṣetraṁ hāṭakeśvarasaṁjñitam asmadīyaṁ sahasrākṣa vidyate dharaṇītale

"O thousand-eyed one, in the region of Anarta there is a field named Hatakeshvara, which is our very own on the surface of the earth."

Verse 53 (skanda.6.122.53)

तत्राहं वृश्चिकस्थेऽर्के सदा स्थास्यामि वासव । यावत्कुम्भस्य पर्यंतं तव वाक्यादसंशयम्

tatrāhaṁ vṛścikasthe'rke sadā sthāsyāmi vāsava yāvatkumbhasya paryaṁtaṁ tava vākyādasaṁśayam

"There, O Vasava, from the time the sun enters Scorpio until the end of Aquarius, at your very word, I shall dwell there without doubt."

Verse 54 (skanda.6.122.54)

तस्मात्तत्र द्रुतं गत्वा कृत्वा प्रासादमुत्तमम् । मम रूपं प्रतिष्ठाप्य कुरुपूजा यथोचिताम् । येन तत्र निजं तेजो धारयामि तवार्थतः

tasmāttatra drutaṁ gatvā kṛtvā prāsādamuttamam mama rūpaṁ pratiṣṭhāpya kurupūjā yathocitām yena tatra nijaṁ tejo dhārayāmi tavārthataḥ

"Therefore go there quickly, build an excellent shrine, establish my form there, and perform fitting worship, so that I may hold my radiance there for your very sake."

Verse 55 (skanda.6.122.55)

सूत उवाच । एतच्छ्रुत्वा सहस्राक्षो देवदेवस्य शूलिनः । गत्वा तत्र ततश्चक्रे यद्देवेनेरितं वचः

sūta uvāca etacchrutvā sahasrākṣo devadevasya śūlinaḥ gatvā tatra tataścakre yaddeveneritaṁ vacaḥ

Suta said: Having heard this word spoken by the trident-bearing lord of gods, the thousand-eyed Indra went there and did exactly as the god had said.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.122.56)

प्रासादं निर्मयित्वाथ रूपं संस्थाप्य शूलिनः । कुण्डं चक्रे च तद्रूपं स्वच्छोदकसमावृतम्

prāsādaṁ nirmayitvātha rūpaṁ saṁsthāpya śūlinaḥ kuṇḍaṁ cakre ca tadrūpaṁ svacchodakasamāvṛtam

Having built the shrine and established the form of the trident-bearer there, he also had a pool of that same form made, filled with clear water.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.122.57)

ततश्चाराधयामास पुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः । स्नात्वा कुण्डेऽपिबत्तोयं त्रिःकृत्वा च यथापुरा

tataścārādhayāmāsa puṣpadhūpānulepanaiḥ snātvā kuṇḍe'pibattoyaṁ triḥkṛtvā ca yathāpurā

Thereafter he worshipped him with flowers, incense, and sandal-paste, and, having bathed, drank the water of that pool three times, just as before.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.122.58)

एवं स भगवांस्तत्र शक्रेणाराधितः पुरा । समायातोऽत्र विप्रेंद्राः सुरम्यात्तु हिमाचलात्

evaṁ sa bhagavāṁstatra śakreṇārādhitaḥ purā samāyāto'tra vipreṁdrāḥ suramyāttu himācalāt

Thus, that Lord, having been worshipped there earlier by Indra, came here from that lovely Himalaya, O foremost brahmins.

Verse 59 (skanda.6.122.59)

यस्तमाराधयेत्सम्यक्सदा मासचतुष्टयम् । हिमपातोद्भवे मर्त्यः स शिवाय प्रपद्यते

yastamārādhayetsamyaksadā māsacatuṣṭayam himapātodbhave martyaḥ sa śivāya prapadyate

Whoever, with full faith, duly worships him always during the time of snowfall (for four months) attains union with Shiva.

Verse 60 (skanda.6.122.60)

शेषकालेऽपि यः पूजां करोत्येव सुभक्तितः । स पापं क्षालयेत्प्राज्ञ आजन्ममरणांतिकम्

śeṣakāle'pi yaḥ pūjāṁ karotyeva subhaktitaḥ sa pāpaṁ kṣālayetprājña ājanmamaraṇāṁtikam

Even in the remaining part of the year, whoever worships him with devotion, O sage, washes away all his sins from birth to death.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.122.61)

तत्र गीतं प्रशंसंति नृत्यं चैव पृथग्विधम् । देवस्य पुरतः प्राज्ञाः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदाः

tatra gītaṁ praśaṁsaṁti nṛtyaṁ caiva pṛthagvidham devasya purataḥ prājñāḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradāḥ

There, learned men versed in all the scriptures praise and perform various kinds of song and dance before that god.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.122.62)

अत्र श्लोकः पुरा गीतो नारदेन सुरर्षिणा । तद्वोऽहं कीर्तयिष्यामि श्रूयतां ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः

atra ślokaḥ purā gīto nāradena surarṣiṇā tadvo'haṁ kīrtayiṣyāmi śrūyatāṁ brāhmaṇottamāḥ

Here there is a verse once sung by the divine sage Narada, O excellent brahmins; I shall recite it to you — listen.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.122.63)

केदारे सलिलं पीत्वा गयापिडं प्रदाय च । ब्रह्मज्ञानमथासाद्य पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते

kedāre salilaṁ pītvā gayāpiḍaṁ pradāya ca brahmajñānamathāsādya punarjanma na vidyate

"Having drunk the water at Kedara and offered the pinda at Gaya, and thereby attaining knowledge of Brahman, one is no longer subject to rebirth."

Verse 64 (skanda.6.122.64)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं केदारस्य च संभवम् । आख्यानं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठाः सर्वपातकनाशनम्

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ kedārasya ca saṁbhavam ākhyānaṁ brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhāḥ sarvapātakanāśanam

O excellent brahmins, I have thus related to you the entire account of the origin of Kedara, which destroys all sins.

Verse 65 (skanda.6.122.65)

यश्चैतत्छृणुयात्सम्यक्पठेद्वा तस्य चाग्रतः । श्रावयेद्वापि वा विप्राः सर्वपातकनानम् । केदारस्य स पापौघैर्मुच्यते तत्क्षणान्नरः

yaścaitatchṛṇuyātsamyakpaṭhedvā tasya cāgrataḥ śrāvayedvāpi vā viprāḥ sarvapātakanānam kedārasya sa pāpaughairmucyate tatkṣaṇānnaraḥ

Whoever hears this properly, or reads it, or, O brahmins, recites it before others — that man, by the power of Kedara, is instantly freed from all the accumulated masses of his sins.